Wedding Bell Drama

So I'm standing up in another wedding this weekend. For me, this makes somewhere around 9 or 10 total. Again, for me, not a big deal, aside from one thing - THE COST OF RENTING A TUX!!! Let's add to that the complications that come up. Today I had the wonderful pleasure of running around the city trying to find white shirts for myself and other groomsmen as opposed to the ivory shirts we were given. I know the bride and groom care a great deal about tomorrow, but really? Is it going to super noticeable in the pictures? Apparently the battle of Ivory vs. White has created a massive issue, so much so that the groom is trying to get money back for all of us standing up in the wedding. That's great for me, considering this tuxedo rental is around $180.

Why a Tuxedo?

I often wonder where the idea of having the groom, his groomsmen, and the ushers in tuxedos come from. As I write this, I want to do the research, but just don't feel that the time is worth it, but I'm still curious. I also wonder about the history of tuxedo rental costs. The first wedding I was in was about ten years ago, and rest assured I didn't have $180 then to pay for a tuxedo RENTAL. I think the most expensive I've seen to this point was about $145, again for a RENTAL! Maybe it should be a right of passage that all boys upon turning 21 are taken for their own personal tuxedo fitting to be used at all weddings they stand up in, as well as their own. Simple black tuxedo. Then, instead of going to Men's Warehouse or some other place to get the whole ensamble, we can get a vest, or a tie, or whatever from a nice simple selection for a nice reasonable price. Or even better, we just go out and buy the accessories!

Traditions can be argued the same way for women and bridesmaid dresses. Many of the weddings I've been to recently have involved the bridesmaids selecting their own style of dress within certain parameters, as long as the fabric and styles are similar. You don't want one bridesmaid in a low cut top short dress and another in a full length gown, but there is flexibility. Plus, you get to keep the dress. Guys don't get to keep the tuxedo. Now, when a woman is going to wear that dress again remains to be seen. If it's a nice simple dress, why not be able to wear it out on the town? Many of the traditional bridesmaid dresses are too gaudy for that, and to me that's a shame. Makes for a big waste of money.

My strategy

If and when I get married, the guys are going with suits. Simple black suits. Oh, your suit isn't the same shade of black as someone else's? So what! It's going to ruin the pictures. Really? We will take a simple trip to the mall or Kohl's on the night of the bachelor party or whatever, pick up matching shirts, pick up matching ties for the groomsmen and matching ties for the ushers, and then, bang, we're done. And you know what? I get to wear that shirt again. To work, to someone else's wedding, and if I want, sure to someone's funeral. It's all good. The women can get the same color dress. Make it something they can wear again if they want, which I'd think you'd want to do since you're paying for it. A little logic can go a long way.

Best of luck to anyone out there in the wedding planning stage. My advice to you is to stay simple in the dress. Go all out on other things if you want, just don't allow the night before the wedding headache of Ivory vs. White!